"Therefore the essential truth is realisation. Know that to be the goal. Each distinct creed
is but a way to the Truth. The test of progress is the amount of renunciation that one has
attained." Swami Vivekananda (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume VII, Conversations and
Dialogues, From the Diary of a Disciple, XVII:211)

Enlightenment is the ultimate goal in Vedanta. Enlightenment is realization of the Divine
within -- eternal and infinite peace and bliss -- Satchitananda (existence-consciousness-
bliss). One is often faced with so many other goals in life, and it may be easy to lose
sight of the ultimate goal of enlightenment. Indeed enlightenment as a goal may initially
seem intimidating, but it represents nothing more than a realization of one's true nature,
which is Divine. "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are
spiritual beings having a human experience." (Ram Dass) Also, every step toward
enlightenment allows for experience of more peace and bliss in everyday life.

One may aspire for enlightenment in all actions and in all goals, and those aspirations can
be achieved without attachment. The concept of renunciation is most often perceived as
a retreat from society with relinquishment of all material wealth. Certainly, that path of a
sanyasi may involve a retreat to the forest with renouncement of all material wealth, but
that is only a single path, among infinitely many paths to enlightenment. Also, that path
may only be appropriate for specific individuals at certain times in life. If one is attached
to material wealth, retreating to the forest and craving material wealth may not be much
better that living in the midst of material wealth with strong attachment. One's path
varies depending on one's tendencies (vasana), qualities (guna), and impressions from
past action (samskara).

Renouncement need not be literal retreat to the mountains, but can be renouncement of
attachment, which binds one to the duality of happiness and sadness. By doing action
without attachment and for the sake of dharma, one follows the path to enlightenment
with duty and righteousness. Nonattachment frees us from dependence on material
objects or particular situations for happiness. Instead, nonattachment allows for bliss
from within, independent of material entities and specific circumstances. If one's goals
are not aligned with dharma and the Divine, one may diverge from the path to
enlightenment or even move in the opposite direction of that path. However, by orienting
one's goals with dharma and the path to enlightenment, those goals become subgoals,
which lead to the ultimate goal of enlightenment.